AI Damage2015 Yamaha FZ-09: common problems
Owners of the 2015 Yamaha FZ-09 filed 10 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and structure. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 10
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 50% of all complaints
- 2 Structure 30% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 20% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 20% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 10% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 10% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 5 complaints (50% of all).
- Structure: 3 complaints (30% of all).
- Engine: 2 complaints (20% of all).
- Suspension: 2 complaints (20% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (10% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 10 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The rear suspension shock absorber is rusted at all of the rear welded points. The vehicle has been garaged and is in a low humidity desert of arizona. The rust from the welds has traveled up along where two parts of the shock assembly is connected.
Once I did this the bike stalled. To get the bike going again I released the clutch, but once I did this the bike just locked the back tire. I then pulled clutch in again and then it started.
The contact stated that the gear felt clunky when shifting gears and there was an abnormal noise. The motorcycle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,800.
Any play whatsoever is abnormal and will cause excessive vibrations. Vibrations within the clutch assembly will cause plates to break potentially causing a crash.
Since day one of owning my brand new 2015 yamaha fz09 (build date 01/2015) I have noticed a small crack on the frame of the bike. I originally thought this was just a surface defect. After talking with other owners with bikes that were built near the same time as mine, we have realized they all have the same crack.
Bought a brand new 2015 yamaha fz-09 in year 2016. My bike and many others have a defect in the frame, and I chose to dig deeper to see if it was a crack or casting mark.
Any time the vehicle exceeds 70 mph the front brake lever becomes difficult to apply and the front brakes do not work. The brake lever requires multiple cycles of squeeze and release to become effective again.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 10,921 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 30% most complained about).
On average one model year of the FZ-09 has 7 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 10, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Yamaha FZ-09?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, structure, engine. Total complaints: 10. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (10%), rust, corrosion (10%), stalls while driving (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2015 Yamaha FZ-09?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2015 Yamaha FZ-09 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2015 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.